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Basic Sewing Kits

In sewing, as in other crafts, the right tools can make all the difference.

Beyond store-bought

Compact, purse-sized sewing kits usually contain a couple of buttons and snaps; a few yards of black, white, and colored thread; some straight and safety pins; needles; threader; miniature scissors and tape measure; and a thimble. Through the years you might have collected enough ideas about sewing essentials to create your own perfectly stocked sewing kits. Whether store-bought or hand-created, however, a sewing kit should be available for clothing repair emergencies.

For special occasions

Sewing kits make great housewarming, shower, and graduation gifts. If you're stocking a gift kit yourself, you should always assume the recipient is starting from scratch and will need all the basics. These should include two pairs of scissors, one marked for fabric only, one marked for paper, as well as an assortment of small spools of thread: black, white, beige, brown, red, blue, navy, and green should make for a good start.

A well-stocked sewing kit should also have an assortment of needles and needle threaders, a small pin cushion stocked with straight and safety pins, a tape measure, seam ripper, a thimble, and assorted buttons, snaps, hooks and eyes. Fray Check is important for repairing raveled edges, and a few different-sized patches should help with quick knee or elbow fixes. To top off your gift, you may want to include a book or magazine on sewing tips and a gift card to a fabric store.

A tip or two

Start with pre-made sewing kits and add your own touches, or build your own customized sewing kits into decorative tin boxes.
Embroidery scissors work well in small kits; use 6-inch shears for larger sewing kits.
Wind individual thread colors on clear bobbins to store more colors in less space.
Long straight pins with plastic heads are easiest to handle when in a hurry.
Use zip-lock jewelry storage pouches to organize buttons, snaps and other small items.
Six-inch metal sewing gauges are more useful than tape measures for small repairs.